An 18-wheel tractor-trailer carrying propane crashed into a railroad bridge Thursday night in Glenville, New York, causing a massive explosion.

Horrific footage from the scene shows flames shooting up to 200 feet in the air.

The inferno caused the 60-year-old driver to suffer third-degree burns on his hands and face.

The driver, Sylvester Basil Jr. from Clute, Texas, was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center.

Here’s footage from the horrific scene:

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Rawsalerts writes:

Numerous emergency crews are at the scene in Glenville, New York, after an 18-wheel tractor-trailer carrying propane crashed into a railroad bridge, triggering a massive explosion. The explosion was visible for miles, with flames reaching as high as 200 feet in the air. Several surrounding homes were evacuated. The 60-year-old driver from Texas has severe burns to his hands and face and was taken to the hospital. Investigators reported that the driver did not see a sign indicating a low height.

Spectrum News 1 reports:

A truck carrying flammable material, believed to be compressed natural gas, struck the bridge on Maple Avenue in Glenville on Thursday evening, causing a large explosion that injured the driver and knocked out power in the area, Town Supervisor Christopher Koetzle said.

Officials said the vehicle was northbound when the driver failed to recognize the height warning signs and struck the bridge.

A huge fireball could be seen from atop the bridge after the sun went down at around 6:45 p.m. Thursday. Officials said witnesses reported flames reaching nearly 200 feet in the air.

Some homes in the area were evacuated as a precaution.

“Maple Avenue will be closed for an undetermined amount of time while the accident scene is made safe and the investigation can be conducted,” Spectrum News 1 noted.

“It was a significant explosion,” Koetzle said.

“It’s, by far, the worst bridge hit – by far,” he added.

From Daily Mail:

The National Grid map showed that more than 1,200 people, including most residents and businesses on the east side of town, lost power due to the crash.

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Multiple households near the site were also evacuated.

‘The vehicle was struck and three occupants were injured,’ police said in a news release after the crash. ‘All were transported to Albany Medical Center.’

A train can be seen traveling on tracks in videos and photos from the explosion site, but did not sustain any damage, according to authorities.

‘I would assume with the amount of fire that was here, that the train was probably engulfed,’ Glenville police Chief Stephen Janik said.

Police said Basil was traveling from Pennsylvania to make a delivery to an unknown location about an hour north of the crash site.

He did not recognize the warning signs indicating a low height and struck the bridge at around 6.30pm Thursday, according to authorities.

‘He did indicate to officers as they were doing the investigation that he did not see the low bridge sign,’ Janik said.

Despite suffering severe burns, the driver was conscious and walked himself to the ambulance, according to authorities.

 

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